US7411202B2 - Irradiating apparatus - Google Patents
Irradiating apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US7411202B2 US7411202B2 US11/188,554 US18855405A US7411202B2 US 7411202 B2 US7411202 B2 US 7411202B2 US 18855405 A US18855405 A US 18855405A US 7411202 B2 US7411202 B2 US 7411202B2
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- elongated
- reflector
- support
- support member
- cooling air
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related, expires
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B3/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat
- F26B3/28—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by radiation, e.g. from the sun
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05D—PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05D3/00—Pretreatment of surfaces to which liquids or other fluent materials are to be applied; After-treatment of applied coatings, e.g. intermediate treating of an applied coating preparatory to subsequent applications of liquids or other fluent materials
- B05D3/06—Pretreatment of surfaces to which liquids or other fluent materials are to be applied; After-treatment of applied coatings, e.g. intermediate treating of an applied coating preparatory to subsequent applications of liquids or other fluent materials by exposure to radiation
- B05D3/061—Pretreatment of surfaces to which liquids or other fluent materials are to be applied; After-treatment of applied coatings, e.g. intermediate treating of an applied coating preparatory to subsequent applications of liquids or other fluent materials by exposure to radiation using U.V.
- B05D3/065—After-treatment
- B05D3/067—Curing or cross-linking the coating
Definitions
- This invention generally relates to the art of irradiating apparatus, such as an apparatus for curing a curable coating on an object.
- UV irradiators have been used for providing intense energy radiation in a wide range of applications.
- ultraviolet (UV) irradiators have been used in the curing of polymers such as photopolymer paints, the curing of inks and a variety of finishing coatings, the photo activation of adhesives, varied uses in the graphic arts and other areas in research and manufacturing.
- Curing is produced by a polymerization reaction initiated by ultraviolet light, changing a component of the coating from a liquid to a solid state almost instantaneously.
- a UV lamp or other light source can be used in such a manner to be supported adjacent a reflecting surface which is configured to provide a focused reflection of the light.
- a reflector system When used for curing, a reflector system may have an elliptical profile reflector surface to provide a focused optical configuration wherein the light energy is concentrated into a narrow band of energy on the curing surface.
- elliptical reflectors are used in systems wherein the object having a curable coating, for instance, is carried past the concentrated light band on a conveyor or other advancing conveying means.
- a typical irradiator such as a UV reflector
- a typical irradiator includes a rather bulky housing through which air or any other cooling medium flows to facilitate cooling the apparatus.
- the housing adds to the size, complexity and cost of the apparatus and results in the apparatus simply being a bulky and cumbersome structure.
- the present invention is directed to solving these problems by providing an irradiator or reflector with means for cooling the apparatus in an extremely streamlined and very cost effective structure.
- An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved irradiating apparatus or reflector of the character described.
- an apparatus for curing a curable coating on an object.
- the unique features of the inventive apparatus are equally applicable for a wide range of light energy irradiators or reflectors.
- the apparatus includes an elongated support, with a plurality of ribs mounted on the elongated support and spaced longitudinally therealong.
- the ribs have concave contour surfaces.
- An elongated reflector is disposed against the concave contour surfaces of the ribs to define an open-sided light energy reflector surface.
- An elongated light source of radiating curing energy is disposed generally at the source focal point of the elongated reflector for curing the coating on the object.
- the elongated support has passage means for cooling air to flow therethrough.
- the passage means has openings means for distributing the cooling air along the apparatus. Therefore, the elongated support performs a dual function of supporting the ribs as well as providing a manifold for the cooling air and, thereby, eliminates all of the encasing housing structures of the prior art.
- the elongated support is provided by a generally hollow structure.
- the opening means comprise a plurality of air openings spaced longitudinally of the structure.
- the elongated support comprises a tube-like member, and the air openings are located between the ribs.
- the air openings comprise slots in the elongated support, with the slots being elongated in the direction of the elongated support.
- the reflector comprises a reflector sheet.
- Spring means are provided to draw the reflector sheet against the contour surfaces of the ribs.
- the spring means comprise a plurality of spring members spaced longitudinally of the apparatus, and the spring members effectively engage edges of the reflector sheet at longitudinal edges of the open-sided reflector surface.
- the invention contemplates that the discrete openings can increase in size from opposite ends of the elongated support toward the center thereof. This scheme increases the cooling affect at the center of the irradiating apparatus where heat may be most concentrated.
- the invention also contemplates an opening scheme wherein the air openings decrease in size from an air inlet end of the elongated support to an opposite closed end thereof. This arrangement will facilitate maintaining a more uniform air flow along the length of the apparatus.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the irradiating apparatus or reflector of the invention, looking into the concave reflecting side thereof;
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus, looking at the back side thereof;
- FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmented perspective view, partially cut-away, looking into one end of the apparatus
- FIG. 4 is a fragmented perspective view, on an enlarged scale, showing primarily the elongated support and a plurality of the support ribs mounted thereto, and with other components of the apparatus removed to facilitate the illustration;
- FIG. 5 is a further enlarged depiction of the elongated support and a plurality of the support ribs
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of a single support rib, along with a pair of springs and spring clips which draw the reflector sheets into the ribs;
- FIG. 7 is a further enlarged depiction of one of the springs and spring clip, looking at the extreme left-hand end of FIG. 6 ;
- FIG. 8 is a fragmented perspective view looking into one end of the apparatus, with the light source and back reflector cut-away, to illustrate the cooling slots in the elongated support between the support ribs;
- FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a section of the elongated support to illustrate a plurality of the cooling slots
- FIG. 10 is a somewhat schematic illustration of the cooling slots increasing in size from opposite ends of the support tube toward the center thereof;
- FIG. 11 is a somewhat schematic illustration similar to FIG. 10 , but with the cooling slots increasing in size from one end of the support tube to the opposite end thereof.
- the invention is embodied in an irradiating apparatus or reflector, generally designated 12 , which may be used for a wide variety of applications, such as curing a curable coating on an object.
- the apparatus includes an elongated support 14 having a plurality of support ribs 16 mounted to or supported by the elongated support at spaced intervals therealong.
- a rotary actuator 18 is disposed at one end of the apparatus for rotating the entire apparatus to change the reflecting angle thereof.
- a pair of proximity sensors 20 may be provided at an opposite end of the apparatus.
- a conduit 22 extends through the support ribs generally between opposite ends of the apparatus.
- the conduit simply is provided for passing electrical wires or cables therethrough and protecting the wires between the opposite ends of the apparatus. It immediately can be seen from FIG. 2 that the irradiating apparatus 12 is completely void of any surrounding housing whatsoever. Yet, it will be seen hereinafter that the apparatus is provided with a very effective and efficient cooling system.
- an elongated light source 24 of radiating energy is mounted by a pair of brackets 26 within an open-sided, elongated concave reflector, generally designated 28 , to provide a focus for radiated energy, such as curing energy onto an object.
- a pair of highly reflective end walls 30 are mounted at opposite ends of light source 24 and reflector 28 .
- light source 24 may be an ultraviolet (UV) light tube or lamp.
- the open-sided reflector 28 includes top and bottom reflector sections 28 A and 28 B which combine to define the composite reflector 28 .
- the reflector is generally elliptical in cross-section for radiating energy along an energy concentration band or line which may be coincident with the object to be cured. It should be understood that the reflective surface of reflector 28 is “generally” elliptical in that a perfectly elliptical surface is not fabricationally practical. In fact, a generally reflective surface could be fabricated with many finite straight line sections. Reflector 28 herein, including reflector sections 28 A and 28 B, is fabricated of thin, flexible and highly reflective material.
- a back reflector 32 is provided behind light source 24 and includes a pair of side elliptical sections.
- the back reflector runs lengthwise along the light source, and a pair of side reflectors 34 are provided on reflector sections 28 A and 28 B.
- the surfaces of the side reflectors are generally elliptical.
- the back reflector including its elliptical side sections, is effective to redirect rearwardly radiated energy from the light source onto side reflectors 34 which, in turn, reflect the energy to the energy concentration band or line.
- FIGS. 4 and 5 simply show a plurality of the support ribs 16 mounted to and supported by the elongated support 14 .
- the elongated support is generally cylindrical and generally hollow and, hereinafter, will be referred to as the “support tube”.
- the support ribs 16 are generally planar members. Both the support tube and the support ribs may be fabricated of an aluminum alloy material, for instance.
- a groove 36 is formed in the outside surface of support tube 14 and runs substantially the entire length thereof, with at least one end 36 a of the groove being open as seen in FIG. 4 .
- Each support rib 16 includes a positioning tab 38 which projects into groove 36 to precisely position or locate each individual rib and all ribs mutually at a specific angular orientation relative to support tube 14 .
- the support ribs have a large circular hole 40 which embraces the support tube. With rotary actuator 18 removed, the support ribs can be slidably mounted onto support tube 14 from one end thereof by sliding positioning tabs 38 into open end 36 a of groove 36 and spacing the ribs longitudinally of the support tube.
- the ribs also have smaller holes 42 for receiving conduit 22 ( FIG. 2 ).
- the ribs can be spot-welded to the outside of the support tube and to conduit 22 . Of course, other fixing means are contemplated.
- each support rib 16 includes a center flange 44 and a pair of side flanges 46 and 48 , all of which project generally radially into the open-sided reflector 28 .
- Center flange 44 has a slot 44 a through which back reflector 32 ( FIG. 3 ) extends.
- Side flanges 46 and 48 have slots 46 a and 48 a , respectively, through which side reflectors 34 extend.
- FIG. 6 shows that reflector sections 28 A and 28 B engage against concave contour surfaces 50 of ribs 16 .
- contour surfaces 50 of ribs 16 form a generally elliptical configuration for reflector 28 .
- FIG. 6 shows that reflector section 28 B is sandwiched between center flange 44 and side flange 48 .
- Reflector section 28 A abuts center flange 44 and has holes through which side flanges 46 project.
- the invention contemplates a unique feature which includes spring means to draw reflector sections 28 A and 28 B into engagement with the concave, contour surfaces 50 of support ribs 16 .
- the flexible reflector sections 28 A and 28 B are fabricated of highly reflective, sheet material, such as sheet metal or the like. As seen in FIG. 6 , an inside edge 52 of reflector section 28 A abuts against center flanges 44 of support ribs 16 , and an inside edge 54 of reflector section 28 B abuts against the center flanges of the ribs.
- a plurality of coil springs 56 for reflector section 28 A and coil springs 58 for reflector section 28 B are provided to pull the reflector sections into abutment with center flanges 44 of the support ribs and to draw the flexible reflector sections against the concave contour surfaces 50 of the ribs.
- One end of each coil spring 56 is secured to a spring support rod 60 (see FIG. 2 ) and one end of each coil spring 58 is secured to a spring support rod 62 (see FIG. 5 ), with the spring support rods extending through appropriate holes in support ribs 16 .
- Support rods 60 and 62 extend through small holes in support ribs 16 .
- the support rods may be fabricated of metal material and the support ribs may be spot welded thereto.
- coil springs 64 which embrace the outside edges of reflector sections 28 A and 28 B.
- spring clips 64 have U-shaped engagement lips 64 a which wrap around the outside edges of the reflector sections.
- the spring clips may be stamped and formed of sheet metal material, and individual spring clips are disposed between respective pairs of adjacent support ribs 16 as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 . Therefore, coil springs 56 and 58 are effective to pull on the outer edges of reflector sections 28 A and 28 B, respectively, and to biasingly draw the flexible reflector sections into engagement with the concave contour surfaces defined by support ribs 16 .
- FIGS. 8 and 9 show the unique cooling system of the present invention.
- the generally hollow, cylindrical support tube 14 forms a passage entirely therethrough for a cooling medium such as cooling air.
- the cooling air can be supplied from an appropriate source thereof to an air inlet end 74 ( FIG. 2 ) of the support tube.
- air openings in the form of a plurality of cooling slots 68 are formed in the support tube in communication with the interior passage thereof. It can be seen in FIG. 8 that there are a plurality of discrete cooling slots 68 formed between adjacent pairs of support ribs 16 . In other words, one cooling slot 68 is formed between each pair of support ribs.
- cooling slots 68 are formed in the bottom or base of positioning groove 36 which receives positioning tabs 38 of the support ribs, as described above.
- support tube 14 performs a dual function of supporting support ribs 16 as well as providing a manifold for cooling air which exits the openings or slots 68 toward the interior of reflector 28 .
- FIG. 3 shows a few of the cooling slots 68 which communicate with the interior of the open-sided reflector 28 , between the inner edges 52 and 54 of reflector sections 28 A and 28 B, respectively.
- the very efficient and streamlined structural combination can easily be visualized in FIG. 2 wherein it can be seen that all of the cumbersome and expensive housings of the prior art have been completely eliminated.
- the “support means” for the “reflector means” of the irradiating apparatus of the invention performs both a support function and a cooling function as a manifold for the cooling air.
- FIGS. 10 and 11 show how the cooling system of the invention can be advantageously used to vary the flow of cooling air lengthwise along the elongated support tube 14 .
- light source 24 also is a source of heat.
- FIG. 10 shows how the end-most cooling slots or air openings 68 A are smaller in size than the center cooling slot 68 B, with intermediate cooling slots 68 c of yet different sizes between the endmost and the center slots.
- the illustration is broken-away, as at 70 , lengthwise of support tube 14 , but it can be understood that the openings can increase in size progressively from opposite ends of support tube (manifold) 14 toward the center thereof where the heat often is the most intense.
- FIG. 11 shows another advantageous scheme wherein a plurality of air openings or slots 68 D- 68 H increase in size from one end 74 of support tube 14 to an opposite closed end thereof.
- end 74 represents the inlet end of the hollow support tube. Therefore, air openings 68 D- 68 H progressively increase in size toward the inlet end of the tube in order to have a more uniform air flow lengthwise of the tube.
- high velocity air enters tube 14 at inlet end 74 and is stopped at the opposite closed end which increases the static pressure at the closed end.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Microbiology (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Heating, Cooling, Or Curing Plastics Or The Like In General (AREA)
- Coating Apparatus (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (25)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US11/188,554 US7411202B2 (en) | 2005-07-25 | 2005-07-25 | Irradiating apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
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US11/188,554 US7411202B2 (en) | 2005-07-25 | 2005-07-25 | Irradiating apparatus |
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Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20070017503A1 US20070017503A1 (en) | 2007-01-25 |
US7411202B2 true US7411202B2 (en) | 2008-08-12 |
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US11/188,554 Expired - Fee Related US7411202B2 (en) | 2005-07-25 | 2005-07-25 | Irradiating apparatus |
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Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090273936A1 (en) * | 2008-04-30 | 2009-11-05 | George Wakalopulos | Gas cooled reflector structure for axial lamp tubes |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20150378072A1 (en) * | 2014-06-26 | 2015-12-31 | Heraeus Noblelight America Llc | Modular uv led lamp reflector assembly |
Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5003185A (en) * | 1988-11-17 | 1991-03-26 | Burgio Joseph T Jr | System and method for photochemically curing a coating on a substrate |
US5861633A (en) * | 1997-08-04 | 1999-01-19 | Con-Trol-Cure, Inc. | Irradiator apparatus |
US5988836A (en) * | 1996-07-31 | 1999-11-23 | Swarens; Ralph W. | Recessed indirect fluorescent light fixture with flexible reflector |
US6242717B1 (en) * | 1999-08-30 | 2001-06-05 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Removable reflector rack for an ultraviolet curing oven |
US20020118541A1 (en) * | 2001-02-27 | 2002-08-29 | Nordson Corporation | Lamp assembly |
US6720566B2 (en) * | 2002-08-20 | 2004-04-13 | Miltec Corporation | Shutter for use with a light source |
US6739716B2 (en) * | 2002-06-10 | 2004-05-25 | Océ Display Graphics Systems, Inc. | Systems and methods for curing a fluid |
US6841790B1 (en) * | 2003-10-07 | 2005-01-11 | Miltec Corporation | Snap-in radio frequency screen for ultraviolet lamp system |
US6883936B2 (en) * | 2002-10-15 | 2005-04-26 | Delaware Capital Formation, Inc. | Shutter apparatus, curing lamp housing incorporating same, and method of shutter replacement |
US7002170B2 (en) * | 2001-05-26 | 2006-02-21 | Arccure Technologies Gbmh | Radiation device |
US20060266955A1 (en) * | 2005-05-24 | 2006-11-30 | Dubois Equipment Company, Inc. | Apparatus for curing a coating on a three-dimensional object |
-
2005
- 2005-07-25 US US11/188,554 patent/US7411202B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5003185A (en) * | 1988-11-17 | 1991-03-26 | Burgio Joseph T Jr | System and method for photochemically curing a coating on a substrate |
US5988836A (en) * | 1996-07-31 | 1999-11-23 | Swarens; Ralph W. | Recessed indirect fluorescent light fixture with flexible reflector |
US5861633A (en) * | 1997-08-04 | 1999-01-19 | Con-Trol-Cure, Inc. | Irradiator apparatus |
US6242717B1 (en) * | 1999-08-30 | 2001-06-05 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Removable reflector rack for an ultraviolet curing oven |
US20020118541A1 (en) * | 2001-02-27 | 2002-08-29 | Nordson Corporation | Lamp assembly |
US7002170B2 (en) * | 2001-05-26 | 2006-02-21 | Arccure Technologies Gbmh | Radiation device |
US6739716B2 (en) * | 2002-06-10 | 2004-05-25 | Océ Display Graphics Systems, Inc. | Systems and methods for curing a fluid |
US6720566B2 (en) * | 2002-08-20 | 2004-04-13 | Miltec Corporation | Shutter for use with a light source |
US6883936B2 (en) * | 2002-10-15 | 2005-04-26 | Delaware Capital Formation, Inc. | Shutter apparatus, curing lamp housing incorporating same, and method of shutter replacement |
US6841790B1 (en) * | 2003-10-07 | 2005-01-11 | Miltec Corporation | Snap-in radio frequency screen for ultraviolet lamp system |
US20060266955A1 (en) * | 2005-05-24 | 2006-11-30 | Dubois Equipment Company, Inc. | Apparatus for curing a coating on a three-dimensional object |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090273936A1 (en) * | 2008-04-30 | 2009-11-05 | George Wakalopulos | Gas cooled reflector structure for axial lamp tubes |
US7775690B2 (en) * | 2008-04-30 | 2010-08-17 | Adastra Technologies, Inc. | Gas cooled reflector structure for axial lamp tubes |
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US20070017503A1 (en) | 2007-01-25 |
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